Thank you from Calvert Hospice!

Thank you to everyone who participated in our Fourth Annual Festival of Wreaths! This year we not only featured wreaths, but also lots of holiday activities for the whole family! With nearly 600 in attendance, we raised over $16,000 to support our Burnett Calvert Hospice House and the patients who reside there. This support means a great deal to us as we work each year to raise the more than $250,000 we need to help cover the expenses of operating The Burnett Calvert Hospice House, our residential facility for patients who can no longer be cared for in their homes.

We take this opportunity to recognize the exceptional support of our community. First, we offer a special thanks to our Partners in Hospice: Medart Galleries, DirectMail.com, and Floor Systems for their sustained support throughout the year.  To Sherry Gleason and Robin Catterton, we thank you for creating beautiful centerpieces and helping attendees create their own. Our thanks to Toni Healy for your wreath-making skills and to Stephanie Tayman for helping us make fun holiday ornaments.  Thank you to the Girl Scouts and NHS Art Club for your face-painting skills and to Bunky and Blondi for your balloon creations and magic show. Thank you, Calvert Crabs for providing delicious lunch options.  We offer gratitude to the talented Calvert Brass Consortium for their beautiful performance of holiday selections.  We’d like to give special recognition to Crow Entertainment for providing an incredible DJ and a creative photographer at their photo booth!  We especially want to thank Santa, who arrived via fire truck courtesy of the Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department.

We are especially grateful to our Sponsors for their commitment to this event:  Gail Siegel of O’Brien Realty, Exelon Generation, Community Bank of the Chesapeake, Jan Kleponis of O’Brien Realty, Pickett Law, Rymer & Associates, Crow Entertainment, Calvert Internal Medicine Group, Calvert County Democratic Women’s Club, Delaney & Keffler, Lee Funeral Homes, and PNC Bank.

We extend our sincere thanks to the Contributors to our very successful Spree Wreath Raffle: Karen Sharpe, Olive Garden, Hook & Vine, Calvert Marine Museum, Dickinson Jewelers, Mission BBQ, Mamma Lucia, Nicolette’s, CD Café, The Pier, Cracker Barrel, Salsaritas, Maerten’s Jewelers, Walmart, Spirits of Calvert, Sweet Frog, Jerrys Seafood, Judy Coffren, Texas Roadhouse, Battle Creek Beef, The Shoppe for Hospice, and Unique Boutique.

We had more than 90 wreaths on display in the atrium of Calvert High School. These were all donated to us by talented artists and crafters from our community. The selection was once again diverse and participants bid on their favorites all day via mobile phone. We are grateful to all who continue to donate their talents year after year, as well to all those for whom this was their first donation. Every wreath was wonderful and your time, energy and support made all the difference. We literally couldn’t do this without you!

Finally, we’d like to recognize those behind-the-scenes. Our Special Thanks go to Matt and Carmen Gambrill, Coach Rick Sneade and his student volunteers, along with John Brady and family. We offer our heartfelt appreciation to the Calvert Hospice staff and volunteers who went above and beyond to create this experience for our community. Simply, you ARE Calvert Hospice.

We realize how fortunate we are to live in such a generous and giving community.  This support is what sustains our independent, nonprofit agency.  We are honored to help patients and families make the most of every moment together and remain committed to our mission of “Enriching the quality of the lives we touch with expert and compassionate care.” Thank you for being here for us, so that we will always be here for you, when you need us most.

Jean E. A. Fleming, Executive Director

Claire Piason, Director of Development